After a relatively mild winter with one weekend 12 degrees below zero, it sure looked like spring was going to be here early. Thank you April!

The frost is long gone from the soil, and it has warmed up to a stage where the old dependable weeds are sprouting. Chickweed, ground ivy, and clover are all growing and the maple seeds have been popping up like popcorn. The grass is ready for the first mowing and the lilacs and the flowering almonds are in bud, and the flowering quince’s blooms are opening. The forsythia is in bloom and the daffodils are, too.

The roses are sprouting and pruning time is here. I had two wonderful days last week feeling gloriously happy out in one of my rose gardens. Lots of pruning, raking and weeding, and breathing in one of my favorite spring fragrances: warm, moist soil. The temperature was a delightful 72 degrees. Friday morning, we left for Newport, Rhode Island, for our annual ARS Yankee District Convention. We had an outstanding time with our rose buddies while the temperature dumped outside. By the time we left mid-day Sunday, the wind was gusting to 60 miles per hour and our 2.5 hour trip was full of snow squalls and heavy wind gusts that kept both of my husband Bob’s hands tight on the steering wheel. We were getting buffeted all over the place! By the time we got home we were both feeling stiff from the tense ride home.

Diaster strikes

Monday morning, in April, we woke up to heavy snow. I went out on the porch and took a quick photo of ‘Colette‘ with her tiny little spring-green leaves covered with snow. I watched it snow all day that day with an empty feeling inside. This is the time of year I really want to be outside in the garden. Instead, I prayed that all my beautiful roses wouldn’t freeze to death. We built a hot roaring fire in the fireplace and pretended it was January (during which we had no snow this year at all!). All told, we had around five inches of snow and our driveway turned into an ice skating rink. Since then, it’s been chilly, the snow has all melted from the strong April sunshine, and I haven’t had any time out in my garden this week.

All this reminds me that there are guidelines, but there are no rules! We look for the sprouting weed seeds as an indicator of soil warmth, and we look to the bright yellow forsythia blossoms as a cue to start spring pruning. Heaven and Nature are the ultimate deciders, and unfortunately for us so far this spring, Alberta Clippers seem to be on our horizon a lot lately!! And so, there is nothing we can do but be patient. As always, Heaven and Nature are in charge!